Medway Plantation

Location: Mount Holly, South Carolina off U.S. Route 52

Medway Plantation is located in the Mount Holly community which is between Goose Creek and Charleston South Carolina.  The plantation was added to the National Register of Historic places back in 1970.  The plantation house was built back in the later 1600's by a small group of settlers from Holland.  Medway was a active plantation during the winter and summer months.  Rice was the main focus during the summer months and brick making following during the winter months.  Medway today has been set up in a Environmental Trust by Gertrude Sanford Legendre which ensures the preservation of the plantation.   

Quinby Plantation

Location: Huger, South Carolina

Architectural Style: Federal

 Quinby plantation was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1985.  The plantation house was built in 1800 and follows the federal style house.  Halidon Hill Plantation serves as the home of the house when it was moved there in 1954 in order to preserve the plantation house.  The original foundation is the only part of the house that is still on the grounds of Quinby Plantation. The property mainly rice fields was apivotal aspect of the low-county rice culture.

 

Middleburg Plantation

Location: Huger, SC/ East Branch of the Cooper River

Architectural Style: Colonial

Middleburg Plantation house was first constructed in 1699 by Benjamin Simons, a French Huguenot.  The original wood-frame building is still standing to this day, which makes it the oldest wood-frame building in South Carolina. 

The plan of the house became what is known as a precusor for the typical Charleston single house, where each floor has three rooms.  The plantation home was register as a historical landmark back in 1970.  The property has been passed down for centuries and still remains in the hands of Simon's descendants. 

Lewisfield Plantation

Location: Western branch of the Cooper River
Berkeley County Moncks Corner, SC

Today Lewisfield Plantation is privately owned by the Dennis family.  The plantation was built around 1744.  Throughout the property the cash crop of rice was planted in the flooded fields, which was harvested as a source of revenue for the owners. 

Today the rice fields are still there but no longer serve the purpose for growing rice.  The fields today are planted with corn and flooded and serve as duck impoundments.  This historic site today is somewhat difficult to personally visit since the property is privately owned.

Strawberry Chapel

Location: Berkeley County

Childsbury was one of the first settlement towns established in the Carolina colony.  Strawberry Chapel was one of the buildings created during this time and to this day is the only remaining structure.  The church was built in 1725.

During this time there where many other plantations being built and the the Childsbury settlement could not compete, which caused the town to diminish.  The chapel was used for many years during this time because the nearest church was Biggin church roughly 10 miles away.  The chapel today is thought to be haunted, so if your in the area Strawberry Chapel is a must see especially at night.

Biggins Church Ruins

Location: Moncks Corner, SC

Biggins church was built in 1711 and served as a place of worship for many years.  The original structure was the church of the parish of St. John's Berkeley.  There has been many reconstructions on the church due to it being burned and damaged in three fires. 

The church was used up until the civil war, but was damage during the war.  After the burning of the church in the 1890's there has been no attempt to rebuild the church.  The ruins of the church are surrounded by many burial sites and the number of tombstones continues to grow til this day.

Mulberry Plantation

Location: Moncks Corner, SC
Western Branch of the Cooper River

Est. Late 1600's

Architectural Style: Colonial Georgian 

Another unique place to add to the visit list is Mulberry Plantation.  Located between Moncks Corner and Charleston, this property was developed in 1714 by Thomas Broughton, who became the Royal governor of South Carolina, and is one of the oldest plantation homes in the United States.  Its rice fields, dikes and canals were well preserved into the 20th century.  The plantation is privately owned to this date.

Old Santee Canal Park

Location: 900 Stony Landing RD Moncks Corner, SC 29461

Phone: (843) 899-5200 

If ever in the Moncks Corner, SC area, one spot you sure don't want to pass the opportunity to visit, is Old Santee Canal Park. The Santee Canal was established in the 1800, and hold the crown of being the first true canal built in America.  The canal served as a rout of trade along the Cooper River to Charleston, SC. 

The natural beauty of the park can be seen across the 4 miles of boardwalks through the wetlands surrounding the area which is home to many species of wildlife.  The main interpretive center museum displays the natural and rich culture that was found on the historic Stony Landing Plantation.  Also, the property is home to a plantation house that was built in the 19th century.

There is a small fee to visit the site during its operating hours during the day throughout the week and weekends.  There are also many events throughout the year hosted on the property.  A few events are as follows, Shuckin' in the Park Oyster Roast, Berkeley County Kids Who Care Project Competition, and Berkeley County Birdhouse Building Contest.

Photo Creds to http://visitberkeleycounty.com

 

                                                                                     

Wampee Plantation

Wampee Plantation

•       Location: Pinopolis, South Carolina

•      Est: 1822

Another unique piece of history in Berkley County can be found in the back yard of the small community of Pinopolis, SC.  With the plantation home being built in 1822 it has endured the Civil War and the creation of Lake Moultrie.  The house was originally constructed on a 1000 acre grant along with a few other plantation homes that were victims to the extreme flooding of Pinopolis with the development of Santee Cooper hydroelectric power plant that generates power across the coast.

A large amount of renovation has been done to the house since originally being built.  The house along with the property surrounding has exchange hands of ownership over the years and is currently owned by Santee Cooper and used a conference center for the company.

Interesting enough rumors of many believe the Wampee house to be most haunted place in Berkley County.  Ghost Hunters of Charleston conducted a study of a couple nights while on the property but little was discovered to make fact of the rumors over the years by residents who were allowed to stay in the house from time to time.

Berkley County History

If you are ever planning a trip to South Carolina for any particular reason, I would especially urge you to stop and visit historical sites Berkley County.  Berkley County, located in the lower state of South Carolina is home to many historical venues that plunder deep into the rich history of the state.  Growing up in Huger, SC I have had the chance to visit nearly all marked historical sites in the Berkley County area.

Pompion Hill Chapel

• Location: Huger, SC Hwy 41 and 402

• Architectural Style: Georgian

• Established: 1763

 Pompion Hill Chapel gracefully overlooks the Cooper River.  The chapel was the second built on the site which served as a place of worship for Anglican descendants during the 1700's.  All exterior masonry resembles a Flemish bond pattern.  The interior woodwork is still all original which makes the preservation of the chapel outstanding and unique to have lasted thus far.  The name of the chapel is sometimes pronounced Pumpkin.  This is due to the fact that Berkley County earliest settlers were Huguenots, and pompion is an old French word for pumpkin.  Today the site is used largely for weddings and events of that sort.

                                     Photo credited to South Carolina's Information Highway